ing without notice? Women don't like such ways?"
"My missis isn't like t' main of women in a deal of things. See how bright t' house looks, Jonathan. It is thy friend's house now."
"Ay, and it used to be Sykes's. I don't forget, Ben."
"I didn't think thou did. But it's good to remind one's self. Blessings are easy things to forget."
Ben's house did indeed look bright. In honor of Christmas there were wreaths of evergreens in all the windows, and lights behind them, and in the downstairs rooms the pleasant ruddy glow of fires, and when the servant opened the door there was a feeling of warmth and brightness, and a smell of delicacies in preparation that was positively exhilarating. And the parlor looked so cosy that Ben was quite proud of it; and he touched Nelly's rocking-chair in such a tender way that Jonathan could not but notice how pretty and home-like it looked, with her sewing laid across it, and her thimble and scissors, and spool of white thread.
In a few minutes there was a light footstep
